Tuesday, November 17, 2015

[K-Drama Review] She Was Pretty (2015)

She Was Pretty is a right choice
for you who long for something light, cute, and pure rom-coms. The classic
k-drama elements enveloped the whole 16 episodes. This show is somehow give
similar aftertaste to Oh My Ghost, by looking at its sweet and cute touches,
however story-wise, She Was Pretty has less shocking elements compared to Oh My
Ghost, which has a unique premise. So, to sum it up, She Was Pretty is like a
strawberry milkshake you used to enjoy long time ago and you know exactly what
it taste like, but still give you that trilling and pleasant feeling once you
sip it.

PLOT:

She Was Pretty narrates a story
of a woman named Kim Hye Jin (Hwang Jung Eum) who used to be a pretty when she
was a child but grew up as an unattractive lady. Meanwhile, her best friend and
first love, Ji Seong Joon (Park Seo Joon) who used to be fat and ugly in
elementary school grew up into a handsome man. Ji Seong Joon has been in love
with Kim Hye Jin since they were a child and decided to track his first love
whereabouts and perfected his almost-perfect life with his girl by his side.

FIRST IMPRESSION:

I love She Was Pretty! Actually,
I’m head over heels for this drama after watched its first episode. The show
definitely matches my taste.

The show has already showed
obvious classic rom-com elements from its first episode. The comparison between
the female lead who live a hard life and has an unattractive appearance and the
second female lead who seems to have everything all girls want in this world –
lots of money, attractive appearance, boys lining up for her, expensive gifts,
etc. What interesting is that instead of taking a typical route – in which the
female lead usually not friends with the second lead – the writer decided to
put these two’s relationship in a cute and strong friendship. Even though an
entrance of an almost-perfect man – Ji Seong Joon – will (for-a-moment) break
the two’s relationship – which is cliché and guessable.

I must say that aside from an
interesting premise, Hwang Jung Eum’s performance as Kim Hye Jin is the reason
why I fell so hard for this show since its first episode. I didn’t know that
she will put a hundred percent of herself to look really ugly. Seriously, the
actress is really looking ugly in the first episode! I have to put my two
thumbs up for her who is not afraid to look ugly and act manic – which I loved
berry much. I know a lot of people hate her because she seems to be overexcited
in everything she does, but I think that’s what differentiates her from other
actresses, in a good way. Her cheery and fiery personality brightens up her
character’s pitiful life.

Moving on to the second episode,
my love expands for not only Kim Hye Jin’s character, but also Kim Shin Hyeok.
Seriously, Siwon, if you have the opportunity to choose a role after you finish
your enlistment, you HAVE to choose a role similar to Kim Shin Hyeok, because
this role is PERFECT for you. This is another twist I love from classic-rom-com
elements of the drama. Instead of putting an overly sweet second male lead, the
writer decided to bring out a quirky second lead who will match a female lead’s
odd personality.

I love the fact that the editor
chose to put a cowboy-guitar-tune every time Kim Shin Hyeok was doing something
petty or eccentric considering that in real life, Siwon also well known as male
celebrity who has an American-feel.

Similar to Hwang Jung Eum, Siwon
also not afraid to look ugly in the show – even though he will and always be
handsome no matter what he’ll do with his face or appearance (seriously, Siwon,
can’t you be more human-like?).

Anyway, despite of its easily
guessed plot, the first four episodes of the show are attention-grabbing and
succeed in making me crave for more.

STORY:

She Was Pretty offers a classic
story with an exciting characters. The story is so guessable, but the
characters make that boring elements into something delightful to watch.

Sure, the premise of someone who
turned ugly when they grew up and someone who turned perfect when they grew up
is new, but the elements along the journey of the two leads is familiar and as
a viewer, I already knew where the story will go. There is hardly any
surprising element of the story, which is something I regret the most because
the characterizing of the show is amazing. If only the writer juxtapose the
wonderful characterizing with the plot, then this drama will be perfect.

I feel like the story is dragging
so much, though. The show will be perfect and beautifully ended with 14
episodes, but no, the director decided to drag it out to a 16-episodes series.
I feel like from the episode 11 onwards, the show was going off course.

SPOILER ALERT

When Ji Seong Joon finally found
out that Ha Ri is not the real Hye Jin he’s been looking for and the Kim Hye
Jin he used to insult is the real Hye Jin, I’m afraid of where the story will
go because the main story of the show is about how Ji Seong Joon accept the
fact that his Hye Jin is not as pretty as she used to be and when he finally
accept that, what’ll remain? Then my fear turned into disappointment when in
the end of the episode, Hyejin though that Hari is leaving her because she can’t
be around Hyejin anymore due to her guilty feeling of lying and stealing her
best friend’s first love.

Thank God, in the next episode, I
find out that Hari is going nowhere and decided to start a new page of her life
with her best friend. Butttt…..what will happen with Hye Jin and Seong Joon?
Well, of course they will end up together, since it’s a classic rom-com, right?
Butttt….what will happen to the show if the two leads are finally creating
their happily ever after ending? Create a conflict. An out-of-nowhere conflict.
Shift the main focus to the workplace of the two leads and made up a story of
how close they were to their colleagues. Oh, and add a marriage proposal and a
short-separation (oh, come on! Another long distance relationship? Why?? WHY??).
This, is why, I called the story is going off the track.

Oh, and I feel really bad on how
the writer treated Kim Shin Hyeok character. Isn’t the writer was too cruel in
episode 11 when Hye Jin left Shin Hyeok for Ji Seong Joon right after Shin
Hyeok confessed his feeling to her. Dear, it’s mean. It’s really mean. I must
say that I hate Hye Jin at that time. I really want to slap her face hard and
shake her shoulder while saying “Are you out of your mind? Get sane, girl!” But
what I really want to do is actually hugging Shin Hyeok and told him that he
has tons of women lining up for his heart and chest (well, hello, second lead
syndrome!). But it is not a kdrama without a super loyal second male lead and a
slightly brutal (and dumb) female lead, right? That’s why I enthroned the show
as having pure classic k-drama elements.

I’m not going to lie, but I’m
beginning to bore with the show from episode 11 onwards. From my perspective,
the show was really going off its course and out of its main focus.

Yet, the thing with Ten and the
second son of the president director is a bit surprising. I thought Ten is
Chief Editor Kim and Kim Shin Hyeok is the second son of the president director
(just because he has the look and he lived in a hotel, hallla...!). Kudos for
the writer who seems to succeed in tricking viewers with such twist.

Oh, and despite of its
off-the-main-focus fiasco, I love the fact that the writer closed the show with
Hyejin’s narration of how a supporting character can have the best stories of
all. It synchronizes perfectly with her opening narration of how she assumes
herself as a supporting character that doesn’t have any presence and nice story
to offer.

Oh, and I also love the
side-story of Han Seol (Shin Hye Sun) and Joon Woo (Park Yoo Hwan). I’m not a
fan of Han Seol, because she’s a typical office bitch I will hate, but Joon Woo
is so cute. I would like to have a cute dongsaeng like him, please! Park Yoo
Chun is a lucky man to have him as his little brother. I really hoped Park Yoo
Hwan will follow his brother’s step and improve his career as an actor
though.I hope he will sharpen his
acting skill earn himself a second lead spot, because he has the looks!

END OF SPOILER

CAST:

Hwang Jung Eum as Kim Hye Jin

I love her!! She’s so original and
deserved to be called as a rom-coms specialist! Hwang Jung Eum’s acting is no
joke. I’ve already noticed her remarkable talent since watching her in Kill Me,Heal Me. She just stressed that she is that amazing in She Was Pretty.
Overexcited actresses are usually irking me, especially when they tried to look
cute, dumb and angelic at the same time. But Hwang Jung Eum is an exception.
She pulled off the aforementioned persona perfectly. Instead of hate her, I’m
in love with her. I’m definitely one of those fans who will support her manic
performance, though I’d like to watch her act the total opposite of her
hyper-signature-act.

Aside from acknowledging how
amazing she is as an actress, through her character as Kim Hye Jin, I’ve also realized just how pretty she is. I never consider Hwang Jung Eum as a super
beautiful actress. Sure, she is beautiful, but it’s an ordinary beautiful. Not
amazingly beautiful. But somehow, through this character, her beauty shines,
even when her hair is frizzy and her cheek is full of freckles. And she also
has a killer body!

Park Seo Joon as Ji Seong Joon

Park Seo Joon did put a solid
performance as Ji Seong Joon. What I like about his acting is that he somehow
likes to express what he feels inside through his eyes. The gaze he gave for
Kim Hye Jin when he realized how much he loved her is a perfect weapon to make
a girl lose consciousness (I know, I am). It is amazing. Why? Because that gaze
is a hundred percent different with the gaze he gave to Kim Hye Jin when he
still thinks that girl is frustrating and reminds him of his childhood. He
looks as if Kim Hye Jin is something disgusting.

I also love the fact that he can
change from an uptight, strict and annoying boss to a lovable and full-of-smile
man when he’s on a date with Min Ha Ri (when he still think of Hari as Hyejin).

Choi Siwon as Kim Shin Hyuk

Siwon, I don’t know that you are
this good! Did he take acting lesson? Or did his filming experience with the
mighty Jackie Chan have improved his acting skill? Whatever that is, Siwon is
the real scene-stealer of the show. No, not because he’s the member of Super
Junior or because he’s ridiculously attractive, but because he did a really
really excellent job as an actor.

Talking about taking a risk and
going out of a comfort zone, Siwon did his best! Not only abandoning his
popular visual with a beard (that make him more human-like), he also throwing
away that perfect guy character everyone expected of him.

To be honest, when I knew that
Siwon is going to be a second male lead of the show, I thought that he’s going
to be that typical second lead, who looks cool, super kind, and have an
unconditional love for the female lead. Therefore, Kim Shin Hyuk character is a
surprise! A good surprise!

I’m always excited when this
character is showing up and doing his goofy thing. Siwon did a perfect job in
portraying Shin Hyeok’s personality to the point that I believe that is no one,
NO ONE, will do this as perfect as Siwon did. Congrats, Siwon, you set the bar
high for another actor that will play a goofball character!

SPOILER

I also love the fact that he did
not forget his peculiar persona after he comes clean about his real identity as
a super popular novelist (and after he shaved his beard that made him back to
his God-like feature). His imitation of Jang Soo Won’s robot acting with his
famous line “Are you okay? Were you very surprised? I’m sorry” is one of my
favorite acts aside from his wiggle wiggle rendezvous with his “doppelganger”
gagman Kim Sang Hun.

END OF SPOILER

Go Jun Hee as Min Ha Ri

I thought I’m going to hate her,
but I’m not. Similar to her co-stars, Go Jun He also did a good job in
portraying Min Ha Ri. As a second female lead, she reminded me of Wang Ji Won,
mainly because of her fierceness and style. Just like I loved Wang Ji Won as
the second female lead, I also grew to like Go Jun Hee’s character as the
second female lead in this show. Though, I’m a bit pissed off with her when she
stole Ji Seong Joon for a short amount period of time. I’m really looking
forward to her next project (and her style).

Honorable Mention: Hwang Suk Jung
as Kim Ra-Ra (Editor-In-Chief)

She’s the real vitamin of the
show! I love how the writer decided to put an individual character as the one
who brighten up the mood instead of bringing out a bunch of silly sidekicks who
will lightened up the show. The makeup and wardrobe team did an excellent job
in styling and polishing this character. Oddly, I’m always curious oh how she
will look like in every scene, what Most-like outfit she will wear, what
hairstyle she will show, and what her “entrance” will be.

Hwang Suk Jung is perfect for
this character. Same as Siwon, I also can’t think of another actress that will
play Kim Ra-Ra character as good as Hwang Suk Jung.

Oh, and her character as a
restaurant owner is also hilarious! I thought this character will show up again
and not in one episode only, but turned out, it’s “exclusive.”

“One day I had a thought.
Heroines don't exist only in movies and dramas. That was what I thought. Like
popped corn shoved aside like a bridesmaid for an appetizer that was the
heroine, in real life some people are the main characters and some are the
supporting cast. That's how life is. That was what I thought. Then I am
probably Friend Number 3 of the lead in a supporting role. No. I probably don't
even need and am not fit for the spotlight. I might be just an extra who
doesn't have any presence.” Kim Hye Jin (Ep.1)

“They say you only see as much of
the world as you know about it, and it may be the same for humans. Even someone
you didn’t see when you didn’t know them. You start seeing them more clearly,
as you get to know them.” Kim Hye Jin (Ep.3)

“When you’re young, many people
ask “What is your dream?” However, as I mature, the number of people asking
what my dream is gradually disappearing. Holding onto my dream until I become
an adult isn’t easy in this world. When faced with reality, somewhere along the
line, the fact that the dream seems way out of reach, and seems to have
disappeared, causes me not to even remember what my dream was to begin with at
any given moment. However, before completely forgetting my dream, thankfully
someone asked the adult version of me again.” Kim Hye Jin (ep.16)

“One day, I started thinking
about something. I started thinking that main characters are not only in dramas
or movies. In reality too, there are people who live like the main characters,
and some who live as supporting characters...kind of thought. But now, I have
this thought. Maybe it was me who decided that I was one of the supporting
characters...kind of thought. Giving up so easily by letting life dictate your
path, wasn’t it me who turned off the spotlight that was shining down on
me...kind of thought. People often say that life is not a fairy-tale. But
sometimes like a child, and sometimes like a fool, how about dreaming of a life
that’s like a fairy-tale? If you don’t turn off the spotlight, and if you don’t
give up on your dream, maybe then, something that’s even more fairy-tale-like
than a fairy-tale might happen. Such as the first love that was thought to
never come true comes true, or a childhood dream which had been pushed aside
into your distant memory comes true. Miracle-like things could really happen.”
Kim Hye Jin (Ep.16)

2 comments:

ohh I also love the couple Han Seol (Shin Hye Sun ) and Joon Woo ( Park Yoo Hwan ) . I like them both two, who seeing the instagram Yoo Hwan Park have several pictures together and even in real life they look good together . :) I even feel jealous urghhhh :(